Describes ideas for writing prompts and assignments proposed by three different teachers: (1) writing poems inspired by smells of herbs and spices; (2) writing about past perceptions and feelings after looking at a photograph; and (3) writing a "self-portrait." (TB)

Discusses the potential contribution of GPS and related Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to education. Provides resources for teachers to plan a lesson on exploring with the help of a GPS device in order to increase students' awareness of their surroundings and broaden understanding of their place in the world. (KHR)

Describes the development and implementation of a unit plan which merged drama and historical discourses. Notes the plan also facilitated an inquiry amongst students into the nature of how history is defined, studied, and remembered and why certain voices are included or excluded. Explains that the focus of the unit was two recent publications of…

Examines lesson planning in light of recent research and discussion of foreign language learning and teaching. Aims to give beginning teachers a sense of the recent history of the teaching of foreign languages in North America and the theoretical foundation of the communicative approach to foreign language teaching. (Author/VWL)

Describes a three-step process--exploring, inventing, and discovering--that helps students derive concepts actively from problem solving. (YDS)

Describes a study on how effective teachers use manipulatives successfully. Presents factors to recognize when manipulative-based lessons are identified and discusses ways in which the use of manipulatives can go astray. (YDS)

Describes a teaching assignment at a Department of Defense (DoD) high school in Puerto Rico with bilingual Latin students influenced by island cultures. Discusses classroom cultural awareness and the importance of understanding and appreciating students' backgrounds when cultural or ethnic differences exist in the science classroom. Includes a…

Explores role playing as a unique and amusing way of instruction. Describes how to use this method to teach about cells and atoms. (YDS)

Twenty experienced reading teachers designed and implemented what they considered to be exemplary vocabulary lessons. Transcripts were analyzed for the number of statements relating to word recognition or conceptual development. Results indicate that the majority of teachers provided dual-focused lessons. Although conceptual development…

Describes how to introduce a Shakespeare play by having students act out and discuss an edited, pivotal scene from the play. Suggests various scenes which are well-suited to this activity. (MM)

Argues that "talk around the edges," informal exchanges between children in the classroom, are important moments for the enhancement of language facility, at least as important as formal language lessons. Provides approaches to incorporating "talk around the edges" or talk much like "talk around the edges" into lessons. (TB)

Describes the Syllabus Exchange program, developed by the Theater History Focus group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Analyzes 22 syllabi to determine the primary goals of teachers of Introduction to Theater; types of assignments given to students; teaching strategies employed; and specific organizations of class materials…

Discusses the creation of lesson plans at the elementary and secondary level. Good lesson plans need to address the theme or topic; aims or objectives; warm-up period; materials; presentation; application; summary; assignment; evaluation; teacher's references; and motivation. (four references) (MDM)

Discusses the use of early silent films in second-language classrooms, focusing on the experiences of one instructor in using early French silents in elementary and intermediate French courses. Sample lesson plans and information on the availability of French silents are also provided. (Contains 17 references.) (MDM)

Presents a teaching strategy that uses modeling, discussion, and group work to teach reading research strategies in context. (SR)